Ringling Bros is going to end the era of elephants performing in their circuses in the near future.
I have mixed feelings about this, given where we are in history. Elephant population has dropped significantly, so much that they could become extinct within decades. Hundreds are killed each day for ivory, meat, and trophy.
I like elephants and would hope we don’t eliminate them from the planet. I don’t want to see them abused, either.
I worry that freeing them from circuses and zoos won’t be enough to protect them. That is, I worry we are trading some good feelings about ending abuse at a circus, when wealthy hunters may just kill them all anyway.
My care and concern for elephants started by visiting the circus. I could walk up to an elephant, hold out a peanut, and it’s large trunk would find it’s way delicately to my hand, take a sniff, and take the nut.
I got to see elephants working, easily pulling tent stakes and pushing carts around. I got to touch an elephant, feel it’s skin and stiff hairs. I got to see how the pee and poop, what they sound like, and so on. If I hadn’t seen them at the circus, I might not know much about or care for them much at all.
I became a big fan of elephants. So much so that I wanted one and thought that perhaps a small one could live in the backyard. We had a fence, and a shed. What I didn’t know was how much food it might eat. I read books, but they didn’t talk much about pet elephants at home.
I decided to write to Ringling Bros. to ask for advice. I explained that I was planning a circus (I was), and needed advice on how much food to get for a baby elephant. I may have asked where to get an elephant, too. I ended with a second request, some instruction on riding a unicycle.
A few weeks later I got a letter from Ringling Brothers. Like Ralphie and his letter from Orphan Annie, I ran inside and tore it open to see a response, on official letterhead, showing elephants, horses, and clowns in gold, blue and red ink.
“May 9, 1973
Dear Chris,
Ringling Bros.- Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc., thanks you for your letter telling us about your circus. It sounds like a very nice circus. You must have a lot of talented friends to have so many acts for your circus. Looks to me like you have all the right ideas and methods for having a grand circus. Good luck and stay with it. It is ideas like yours that are built into the best of dreams ever to come true.
Sincerely, Mrs. R. McClaughlin, Secretary Winter Quarters, Venice, FL.”
Rats! They didn’t answer my questions! Still, it was a fancy looking letter on real letterhead with a real signature. I held on to it. I never did get an elephant, but I did hold a circus. Still haven’t mastered the unicycle.
Ahh, elephants.
Here in Brattleboro we have the lovely story of Jumbo having his first splash, in the Whetstone, after a lifetime of captivity. We also have the grotesque story of his remains being shown here after his death.
I have another friend who really did run away and join the circus. He helped with the elephants. He said they were really smart. On his first day, the elephants stole his backpack and went through it to see we he had, passing it among themselves and keeping it away from him.
He told me of one late night, all alone with the elephants, under the full moon, standing in a circle with them. They all started swaying back and forth together, then would grab hay and dirt and toss it up at the moon like fireworks exploding overhead. Transcendental.
There were times when they got near rivers that he could take the elephants to go play in the water, much like Jumbo did here.
And then there was the story of abuse. One night one of his elephants refused to do a trick. It had been raining, and the little table the animal was supposed to stand on was wet. The elephant started, but stopped. It looked unsafe, My friend noticed, thought it reasonable and smart, and let the show go on.
Back after the show, his boss said it was unacceptable. The elephant must not be allowed to decide if it performs. He told him to go beat the elephant. Confused, he went, and tried to discipline the animal, but saw tears in her eyes and decided to quit the show. He left the circus.
He told me that when a circus elephant gets in trouble, for acting out or for being abused, a circus will often rename them. Sally the wild is gone, meet Sue.
Life isn’t always good at the circus for an elephant. It isn’t so good in the wild for them, either.
I suppose my hope, then, is that we find a way to live with elephants. If they decide on their own to join a circus, we should not prevent them, but they should not be held captive and abused, nor should they be hunted. I hope they don’t go extinct.
Ringling made a tough business decision today, and will be ending a long tradition of the circus menagerie. Elephants are popular, and for good reason, They are very impressive animals.
The plight of wild creatures
Chris, I agree with some of your post; society at large has always held a fascination for elephants. Circuses and zoos to some extent provided opportunities to us all to see elephants up close; to marvel at their sheer size and gentleness; to watch them perform tricks. But, people’s views are changing (although not quickly enough)about having wild animals in captivity -particularly when they are being used as a source of entertainment. Ringling Brothers made the only decision they could have made without having their long history of circuses become a lost part of our culture. It wasn’t a brave decision nor should it even have been a difficult decision – it was a humane decision- one that should have been made many years ago. I don’t always agree with the extreme tactics of PETA but in this case I think their continuous protests and vocalization about the miserable lives of elephants in circuses paid off. It provided the pressure that Ringling needed to finally do the right thing. I don’t for one second believe that Ringling Brothers made this decision all on their own. Sanctuaries across the United States are full of magnificent animals that have been rescued from abusive situations; there are more animals in need of refuge than the sanctuaries have room for. Those circus animals that the crowds cheer on and ooh and ahh about don’t want to be there. They’re not happy in those situations; in most cases they are abused; at the very least they spend their lives in cages or chained up until their next performance. People are finally recognizing that animals deserve freedom; respect; dignity in their lives. Movements that range from the carriage horses in New York City to the confinement of killer whales at Sea World to the elephants in the circus are all gaining power to stop the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time volunteering at several animal sanctuaries; I spent an incredibly humbling and beautiful week at a sanctuary for big cats- helping to care for 200 tigers, lions, leopards, lynx and other lesser known exotic cats. They were all rescued from situations that ranged from idiots who bought tiger cubs online and then didn’t know what to do with a full grown 500 lb. wild animal; roadside zoos; small, traveling circuses. The stories were infuriating and heartbreaking. There is an awe inspiring elephant sanctuary in Tennessee that cares for rescued and retired elephants and allows these incredible creatures to live out their lives in the outdoors; at peace and being treated with respect and compassion. It’s a beautiful experience to see them. Here’s the link if you want to check it out; http://www.elephants.com/The Elephant Sanctuary. It was life changing to see these beautiful animals living the good lives they deserve.
I don’t believe that Ringling Brothers should not wait another 3 years to release their elephants to a better life; that’s 3 more years of confinement; of mistreatment; of lack of freedom.Make the change immediately and be seen as a humane,ethical circus. There are several terrific, fun circuses around that don’t rely on imprisoning animals to make a profit. The Big Apple Circus comes to mind immediately. They sell out their shows wherever they appear and there is not a tiger jumping through rings of fire nor an elephant standing on one leg to bring in the crowds.
Poaching, sadly, is so deeply entrenched in some countries that it would take a monumental effort on the individual governments with some help from the United States to even begin to put an end to this barbaric situation.
We have several “caged hunt” parks operating in this country who import exotic animals- lions, leopards, elephants, water buffalo, etc and then allow the more despicable of the wealthiest to pay an exorbitant amount of money to “hunt” these animals. Our government is doing nothing about this atrocity. I think that in my grandchild’s lifetime -he will see the sad reality of elephants, tigers and other magnificent animals becoming extinct
due to the greed of the human race. While I have many issues with most zoos there are some exemplary ones that have excellent conservation/breeding programs that focus on animals that are disappearing. The Bronx Zoo; National Zoo in DC; Atlanta; San Diego are a few in this country that are working hard to educate the public and try to prevent the extinction of many incredible animals. I would urge anyone who wants a truly memorable and life changing vacation to visit one of the reputable sanctuaries in the US. You may come away with a very different impression than you went in with regarding the need to treat all animals with respect.
Yup.
I’d love to make it to a big cat sanctuary – that would be an ideal alternative job for me if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now. I’d love to hear more sometime.
I agree completely. I don’t need to see them at circuses now, and have no defense for any cruelty to animals.
But I do want all of us to continue to have them around. The sanctuaries are crucial.
I guess mixed feelings might have the wrong phrase. How about a “sense of irony” that the abusive circuses and zoos made me learn about and care about these animals in the first place, and, we seem set on killing them all in the wild.
(I’d kinda like to have free roaming elephants in the U.S., with full protection. Imagine one of those coming up to the feeder.)
Another local elephant, another circus
In the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction category, there is the tragic tale of the elephant that died in Putney in 1820. http://www.ctriver.org/the-what/
I am still shaking my head in wonderment and fascination. I’ve been up to see the faint remains of the site. It seems so unreal…
I knew of this poor elephant
I knew of this poor elephant but had never read the full story – thanks for posting the link. Just one more instance where an animal comes to a horrible and painful -not to mention unnecessary -death due to the greed and ignorance of it’s owners.
Same here. The first time I
Same here. The first time I ever saw an elephant, lion or tiger was at the circus. There were a couple of years when I was 7 or 8 when I dreamed of being a ‘lion tamer’. I’m appalled to think of that now. But, it seemed so glamorous with the sparkly costume and all those huge cats sitting at attention…so daring. I was an adult before I came to the realization that wild animals in captivity were not happy and didn’t live good lives .I often wish I had followed my passion and love of animals and chosen a career that included caring for them. But, 4 kids to raise so I chose a more reliable career – teaching – which certainly had it’s own rewards. But nothing that came close to sitting on the ground within petting range of 3 tiger cubs or standing and gently scratching an elephant’s head while she stood peacefully nearby.
If you’re ever interested in hearing more about the big cats sanctuary or seeing some spectacular ‘up close’ photos of those gorgeous animals I’m always delighted to talk about the subject.
Kris